Sleep in a Covered Wagon at Utah’s Conestoga Ranch

Meeting attendees will soon have the opportunity to sleep in a covered wagon at the Conestoga Ranch at Utah’s Bear Lake. When it debuts on July 1, the ranch will be the first glamping resort in the area, mixing the outdoors with a luxury lifestyle that appeals to corporate groups.

“Conestoga Ranch was designed with large groups in mind,” says Tom Hedges, partner for the resort. “It will be our pleasure to offer an extraordinary destination opportunity for corporate retreats. We hope the combination of comfort camping and business will spark creativity, teambuilding, great ideas and a uniquely enjoyable experience for all.”

The ranch will encompass 18 acres overlooking the lake’s turquoise-blue waters and will be able to accommodate up to 180 guests at a time. Attendees can choose to sleep in one of the several glamping tents or one of the Conestoga wagons—designed to look like a covered wagon straight off the Oregon Trail. Inside, however, both the tents and wagons will have soft beds and fresh linens as well as en suite bathrooms. Meeting planners will appreciate the mobility of the wagons, which allows groups to organize customized “encampments” around a campfire.

“The wagons will add an Old West ambiance to the resort and a uniquely fun sleeping experience,” adds Hedges.

Groups will want to take part in the ranch’s many recreational activities such as paddle boards for rent. The ranch will also organize live entertainment and rodeos onsite. “Our staff is happy to assist large groups to build a fabulous activity itinerary,” says Hedges. “There is also plenty of room and an activities field for large groups to spread out. Water sports, four wheeling, fishing, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are all available via our group concierge staff.”

The Campfire Grill will serve breakfast and dinner and will prepare customized picnic baskets for attendees to take on daytime outings. Attendees looking for a bit of culinary interactivity will be able to watch the cooks bake pizzas in the demonstration-style kitchen’s wood-burning oven. The grill will also serve a curated selection of craft beers and fine wines in the small bar, which features saloon-style swinging doors. The resort’s Shake Shack will add a dessert option, too, as it serves up raspberry milkshakes—a nod to the lake’s annual Raspberry Festival—all summer long.

In between activities, planners can organize meetings in one of the several event spaces, fully equipped with state-of-the-art media, according to Hedges. The dining pavilion, for example, is available for meetings between 10 am and 4 pm (in between the breakfast and dinner dining hours). There is also an events lawn available for large groups interested in setting up a meeting tent, adds Hedges. The ranch’s open-air conference area is fully equipped to host groups up to 100.

Jessie Fetterling is a professional writer and editor in the San Francisco Bay Area, covering a wide range of topics from the travel and hospitality industries to sustainable living to family and women's issues. She's particularly interested in writing about travel, food and music. She is also the author of "100 Things to Do in Oakland Before You Die."

1 COMMENT

I never write anything bad about anyone, but I feel that families should be aware of how this company mistreats people with young children. I am appaled by how inconsiderate and rude the owner of this establishment was to us last night! We are staying nearby and this company has been building through the night every night! Blaring their music using hammers, drills and sanders through the entire night!!!! We decided to call the owner (assuming he was a good business man with morals) we asked him very nicely if he could please ask his workers to work a little quieter, he responded by yelling at us telling us “I’m in Salt Lake City and it’s 3 in the morning!” (Really?! Its 3 in the morning?! I didn’t notice!!!!) Then hanging up! Me and my family own many businesses and we would NEVER treat ANYONE like this! I was personally excited to stay in their sites but now I wouldn’t spend a penny on them! I am part of a very large community of people who love Bear Lake and frequent it often throughout the entire year, I will be sure to spread the word!!!

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